ONE NATION - ONE ELECTION

Link for Government of India Web site: https://onoe.gov.in/index

 

After Independence, One Nation and One Election concept was very much in vogue till 1967. Lok Sabha and State Assembly Elections were held simultaneously in the years 1951 - 52, 1957, 1962 and 1967 and this cycle was distrupted due to premature dissolution of State Assemblies in 1968 - 69 and of Lok Sabha in 1970 onwards.

Frequent elections affect economic growth, investment decisions apart from temporary stoppage of welfare schemes and other developmental activities - not to speak of disruption of supply chains and production cycles.

Above all holding simultaneous elections would reduce the massive expenditure incurred for conduct of such frequent elections.

These frequent elections had resulted in heavy strains on our security forces, electoral staff to be deployed etc. Such frequent elections had resulted in avoidable political disputes between contesting candidates and their political parties. Even Court cases could have been reduced with the one nation one election.

We have 28 States and 8 Union Territories totallying 36 numbers and 1 Lok Sabha for conduct of simultaneous elections.

Pakistan, Nepal, Sweden, Belgium etc. have one nation - one election in their respective countries and to restore the pre - 1967 position should be an welcome move.

 

Since 2014, Narendra Modi, who was then Chief Minister of Gujarat, has been espousing simultaneous elections stating that it  will reduce wastage of public money and will ensure the smooth flow of development work, which otherwise gets arrested when the model code of conducts is in force.

 

A high level committee under the chairmanship of former president of india Ram Nath Kovind was constituted for the purpose of implementing one nation one election and on 14th March 2024 he had submitted 18,000 pages long report recommending to start the process from 2029 elections. These requires a total of 18 amendments to the Constitution, most importantly Article 83 (concerning duration of the Houses of the Parliament) and Article 172 (concerning duration of the state legislative assemblies) are required.

The bill for one nation and one election was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 17, 2024 and due to lack of 2/3 support, the bill was referred to 39 member joint parliamentary committee to examine the Constitution (129 Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the amendments to the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963.

The Opposition Parties are against this one nation - one election quoting that such a step would result in national issues overshadowing regional and state specific issues and that simultaneous elections may create a system where National political parties would have a significant advantage over regional parties. Further they argue that frequent elections hold lawmakers accountable, while fixed terms may provide unwarranted stability without performance scrutiny challenging democratic principles. 

As constitutional amendments concerning the term of the state legislative assemblies under Article 172 can be carried out without ratification by state, Opinions of States did not matter thereby such a move hitting heavily on the concept of federalism.

But, considering all aspects, Modi's Government's move to have one nation - one election is in the interest of Nation - looking above the party politics.

 

LET US HOPE MODI'S VISION OF ONE NATION AND ONE ELECTION COMES INTO FORCE.